Method and apparatus for treatment of textile materials

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus perform surface treatment of fibers of woven and non-woven textile materials to be affected by electrical plasma generated by electrical discharges from two electrically conductive electrodes situated inside a dielectric body. A voltage of a frequency from 50 Hz to 1 MHz and magnitude from 100 V to 100 kV is applied between the electrodes of the electrode system which is situated in a gas at a pressure from 1 kPa to 1,000 kPa. The electrical plasma is generated on a portion of the dielectric body surface without contacting the electrically conductive electrodes. The apparatus treats textile materials using electrically conductive electrodes situated inside of the dielectric body and are situated on the same side of the textile material affected by the plasma. The electrically conductive electrodes are parallel with the portion of the surface of the dielectric body on which the electrical plasma is generated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a method and apparatus for treatment ofinner and outer surfaces of woven and non-woven textiles and cords fromorganic and inorganic fibers with the aim to change surface propertiesof the fibers such as, first of all, hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity,surface energy, adhesion to other materials, colorability, surfaceelectrical conductivity, and biocompactibility.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Textiles are made from organic or inorganic fibers that often donot possess the surface properties needed for given applications suchas, for example, hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, surface energy,adhesion to other materials, dyeability, surface electricalconductivity, and biocompactibility. The surface properties of fiberssituated inside of the textile material or on the outer textile materialsurfaces can be modified by various chemical methods described in, forexample, F. Baldwin: “The chemical finishing of nonwovens”, INDA-TEC 97,pp. 6.0-6.42, as well as in patent applications DE 19,647,458; WO97/11989; JP 09241980; and JP 09158020. These methods are based on theuse of aggressive chemicals such as, for example, NaOH, SO₂, fluorine,chlorine, H₂O₂, and toxic chemicals such as, for example, blockedisocyanates and xylene. An environmentally more acceptable option is theuse of surfactant-based finishes, such as described in WO 98/03717,which are applied mainly through topical treatments such as spraying,coating, padding, etc. A major problem encountered with these methods isthat the coating is not usually well-bonded to the fiber and may bepartially lost during storage or in subsequent operations.

[0005] It has been found that plasmachemical treatment methods canovercome these difficulties since they are more versatile and do notneed the use of aggressive chemical, toxic and volatile organicsolvents. The plasmachemical methods are based on the use of lowtemperature electrical plasmas. The low temperature plasmas as describedherein are partially ionized and consist of activated species includinggas molecules, ions, electrons, free radicals, metastables, and photonsin the short wave ultraviolet range. While the gas temperature is low,the electrons have energies of several electron volts, corresponding tothe temperatures on the order of 10⁴ K. The electrons in collisions withgas molecules generate excited gas species, which can react with avariety of substrates to achieve modifications of surface properties.Such plasmas, plasmachemical methods, and apparatus for performing suchmethods to treat non-woven textiles are reviewed in W. Ralcowski: 2^(nd)TANDEC Conf. (1992), D. Zhang et al.: Polym. Eng. Sci, 38 (1998) 965-70,and to treat woven textiles in M. Sotton, G. Nemoz: J. Coat. Fabrics 24(1994) 138.

[0006] The disadvantage of the plasmachemical methods disclosed inpatents WO 00/16914, WO 96/27044, GB 2098636, U.S. Pat. No. 6,118,218,U.S. Pat. No. 6,103,068, U.S. Pat. No. 6,096,156, U.S. Pat. No.5,501,880, U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,413, U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,576, U.S. Pat.No. 5,053,246, U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,369, JP 11256476, JP 10325078, JP09330672, JP 06310117, JP 05287676 is that the low-temperatureelectrical plasmas are generated at low gas pressures thereby making theplasma equipment expensive and continuous operation difficult. Moreover,to generate a low-pressure plasma inside of a textile to treat the innertextile surfaces, an average fabric pore size must be larger than is thedistance over which a charge imbalance (Debye length) can exist. This,however, is for the pore size on the order of 10 μm.-100 μm. fulfilledonly at near-atmospheric pressures.

[0007] For almost two decades, examples of atmospheric pressurenon-equilibrium plasmas have been entering the literature, including theexamples where atmospheric pressure plasmas are used to treat textilematerials. The atmospheric pressure level operation is employed for highthroughput and reduced capital cost since batch processing of textilesand vacuum pumping equipment are not necessary. Suchatmospheric-pressure plasmachemical methods and corresponding apparatus,where the low-temperature plasmas are generated in so-called volumebarrier electrical discharges, are disclosed in patents JP 11329669, JP11253484, JP 11217766, JP 10273874, JP 08337675, JP 07119021, JP06119994, U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,810, U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,425, U.S. Pat.No. 5,688,465 and U.S. patent application 20010008733. The volumebarrier discharge was generated by applying a high frequency, highvoltage signal to an electrode separated from an earthen plane orcylinder by a discharge gap and a dielectric barrier. The fabric treatedis localized on the dielectric barrier surface between both electrodes.The main drawback of such volume barrier discharge devices used fortextile treatment is that the useful plasma conditions are achieved onlyin small volume plasma channels termed “streamers” developingperpendicularly to the textile fibers. As a consequence, the plasma isin a very limited contact with the textile fiber surfaces, which resultsin non-uniform treatment and long treatment times.

[0008] The technological developments have now made it possible toconstruct atmospheric-pressure plasma apparatus operating in a glowdischarge mode, i.e., with a homogenous volumetric plasma structurewithout the streamers, which are similar to that of low pressureplasmas. Applications of such plasma apparatus for textile treatment,where the treated textile is localized between the discharge electrodes,are disclosed in patents JP 08311765, U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,218, U.S. Pat.No. 6,106,659, U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,558, U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,147, U.S.Pat. No. 5,529,631, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,972. Nevertheless, thedischarge stability, in particular in air and other reactive gases, hascontinued to be a vexing problem preventing such apparatus from becomingcommercial successes.

[0009] JP 10241827 and JP 10139947 disclose atmospheric-pressure plasmaapparatus for the treatment of textiles and fibers energized byfast-rising high-voltage pulses, where the treated material is localizedbetween the electrodes. Besides apparent safety and electromagneticinterference problems, such energization is technically and economicallyproblematic.

[0010] In atmospheric-pressure plasmachemical methods and apparatus forthe textile treatments described in patents JP 11354093, JP 11348036, JP11335963, JP 11333225, JP 11102685, JP 11003694, JP 09007444, JP08124578, WO 98/52240, WO 96/15306, U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,384, U.S. Pat.No. 5,821,178, U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,258, EP 903794, EP 0483859, and EP0730057 the low-temperature plasma is generated in corona dischargeswithout a dielectric barrier between the discharge electrodes. Thetreated textile materials are situated between the electrodes. The useof such corona discharges for the textile treatment is, however,unsatisfactory because of their low power density and resulting longtreatment times.

[0011] An atmospheric-pressure plasmachemical method for the treatmentof skin surface of textile materials is disclosed in patent JP100087857. The device described there differs from the volume barrierdischarge devices chiefly in that the streamers are parallel with thefabric surface, and the discharge electrodes are situated on the sameside of the treated textile material. In this way, using a surfacebarrier discharge, the plasma is in a better contact with the surface,which reduces the treatment time significantly. The patent discloses thetreatment of a thin skin layer of the textile only, and the describedmethod does not effect the properties of the surfaces of the textilematerials. The use of an optimized apparatus with the same electrodearrangement as in patent JP 100087857 for the textile treatmentincluding the inner textile surface treatment is described, for example,in M. Cernak et al.: Prof. 17^(th) Symp. On Plasma Processing, Nagasaki2000, pp. 535-8, M. Cernak et al.: Abstracts of 7th Int. Conf. on PlasmaSurface Engineering, Garmisch-Partenkirchen 2000, p. 86, and J. Rahel,M. Cernak, I. Hudec, A. Brablec, D. Trunec: “Atmospheric-pressure plasmatreatment of ultra-light-molecular-weight polypropylene fabric” Czech.J. Phys. 50 (2000), Suppl. S3, 445-48. An apparent disadvantage of suchsurface barrier discharges for potential industrial use is the limitedlifetime of their electrode system due to a direct contact of thedischarge plasma with metallic electrode surfaces and resultingelectrode surface erosion. The electrode lifetime can be limited also byan abrasion at the metallic electrode-textile surface.

[0012] The electrode surface erosion and abrasion is eliminated inapparatus where the coplanar surface discharge is used. The coplanarsurface discharge is described, for example, in A. Sato et al.: IEEETrans. Electron Devices 23 (1976) 328, M. Haacke and G. J. Pietch: Proc.of XII Int. Conf. on Gas Discharges and their Appl., Glasgow, Sept.2000, p. 267, V. I. Gibalov, G. J. Pietsch: J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 33(2000) 2618, and E. H. Choi at al.: Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 38 (1999) 6073.In the coplanar surface discharge defined in these references theelectrodes are situated inside of a dielectric body and, consequently,the discharge plasma is not in contact with metallic electrodes. Thecoplanar discharges are widely used in AC plasma displays as described,for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,881 and U.S. 3,964,050. Patents JP5810559 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,716 describe the coplanar surfacedischarges used as a source of ions for charging and discharging ofdielectric surfaces. Patent JP 1246104 describes the coplanar surfacedischarge used for ozone production. Patent JP 3190077 describes theapparatus for ozone production where besides the main electrodesembedded in the dielectric body an auxiliary electrode situated on thedielectric body surface is used to generate a coplanar surfacedischarge. Such a surface auxiliary electrode has the disadvantage ofits limited lifetime due to an interaction with the discharge plasma.U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,639 describes the auxiliary electrode of a coplanarsurface discharge electrode system, which is embedded in the dielectricbody. The aim of such a electrode is to initiate the discharge atreduced voltage values and increase its power for ozone production.

[0013] The present invention relates to the use of the known coplanarsurface discharge for treatment of inner and outer surfaces of woven andnon-woven textiles and cords from organic and inorganic fibers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] It is the primary object of the present invention to provide amethod and apparatus for treatment of internal and outer surfaces ofwoven and non-woven textiles and cords from organic and inorganic fiberswith the aim to change surface properties of the fibers by the action ofelectrical plasma. The electrical plasma is produced by electricaldischarges generated using a discharge electrode system that comprisesat least two electrically conductive electrodes situated on the sameside of the treated textile material inside of a dielectric body. Theelectrodes are energized by electrical voltage at a frequency from 50 Hzto 1 MHz and magnitude from 100 V to 100 kV, and the electricaldischarges take place in a working gas at a pressure ranging from 1 kPato 1,000 kPa above a part of the dielectric body surface, wherein theplasma is generated without a contact with the conductive electrodes.

[0015] According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, theconductive electrodes are situated in parallel with the part of thedielectric body surface above which the plasma is generated.

[0016] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, thepart of the dielectric body surface above which the plasma is generatedhas the shape of a given pattern.

[0017] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, theapparatus comprises the electrode system consisting of at least twoelectrically conductive electrodes, which are situated inside of adielectric body, and an auxiliary system of electrodes also situatedinside of the dielectric body.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the electrode systemsare situated on both sides of the treated textile material.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, the part of thedielectric body surface above which the plasma is generated has theshape of a plane surface, curved surface, or cylindrical surface.

[0020] According to another embodiment of the invention, a part of thedielectric body inside of which the electrodes are situated is made froma ferroelectric or liquid dielectric material.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention theelectrode edges are curved.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the invention a part of thedielectric body inside of which the electrodes are situated containsMgO.

[0023] According to the present invention, the electrical plasma isgenerated by electrical discharges in the vicinity of the dielectricbody surface, wherein a part of the dielectric body insulating theelectrodes from each other as well as from the electrical plasma is madepreferably from a ferroelectric material. The treated textile materialis situated on the part of the dielectric body surface above which theplasma is generated, or is in motion along the part of the dielectricbody surface above which the plasma is generated, in a direct contactwith this surface, or in close vicinity of this surface, in such a waythat the discharge electrodes of the electrode system are embeddedinside the dielectric body on the same side of the treated textilematerial. Such an electrode arrangement is characterized by the factthat all or the majority of electrical field lines enter and go out fromthe treated textile on the same side of the treated textile and by thefact that the discharge electrodes are not in a contact with theelectrical plasma. As a consequence, the electric field lines and theelectrical discharge channels have the direction mostly parallel withthe textile fiber surfaces and the electrode lifetime is not reduced byoxidation or erosion due to a contact with the plasma, and due to theabrasion by the treated textile. An alternating or pulsed electricalvoltage of a magnitude ranging from 100 V to 100 kV and a frequencyranging from 50 Hz to 1 MHz is applied between the discharge electrodesserving to generate the discharge. The apparatus can operate over a widepressure range from on the order of 1 kPa to the order of 1,000 kPa,preferably at atmospheric gas pressure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a part ofthe planar electrode system for the surface discharge generation thatcan be an essential part of the apparatus schematically illustrated byFIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

[0025]FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a part ofthe electrode system with a cylindrical surface shape, which is equippedwith an auxiliary electrode structure and can be a substantial part ofthe apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating theapparatus aimed to treat textile materials from one side, where thetreated textile material is moved along the planar electrode systemshown schematically in FIG. 1.

[0027]FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the apparatus aimed to treattextile materials from both sides, where the treated textile material ismoved between two electrode systems as that one illustratedschematically in FIG. 1.

[0028]FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the device, where the treatedtextile material is brought into close contact with the cylindricalsurface of the electrode system that is illustrated schematically inFIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EXAMPLE 1

[0029] In the device used for the surface treatment of textile materialsfrom one side, which is illustrated by FIG. 1, the treated textilematerial 4 was moved continuously on the surface of the electrode system1. The electrode system 1 is in detail illustrated in FIG. 1. Thetextile material 4 was moved by means of two pairs of rolls 7 and 8. Thespace between both pairs of rollers was sealed by an upper wall 9,bottom wall 10, and by side walls that are not shown. A working gas witha pressure a little above the atmospheric pressure was fed into thesealed space. An electrical plasma was generated in the working gas onthe surface of the electrode system 1. The electrode system 1 wassituated on the surface of a cooler 11.

[0030] The planar electrode system 1 illustrated by FIG. 3 and shown indetail in FIG. 1, which was used to generate surface electricaldischarges, comprised two coplanar electrodes 2 and 3 having the shapeof a system of 2-mm-wide parallel strips. The distance between thestrips of both electrodes 2 and 3 was 0.5 mm. The dielectric body 5shown in FIG. 1 comprised a 0.5-mm-thick Al₂O₃ layer with the coplanarmetallic electrodes 2 and 3 deposited by vacuum sputtering andsubsequent electroplating on its bottom surface and of a soliddielectric layer coating the Al₂O₃ layer and electrodes 2 and 3 fromtheir bottom side. An alternating electrical voltage was applied betweenthe electrodes 2 and 3. The frequency of the voltage was 25 kHz and thevoltage was 10 kV peak-to-peak.

EXAMPLE 2

[0031] A non-woven polypropylene textile (spunbond, 15 g/m², 2.8-3.2dtex) was treated according to the invention. The aim was to imparthydrophilicity to fiber surfaces in the whole volume of the textile and,consequently, to improve perviousness of the textile for water, urine,and other liquids. The non-woven fabric was treated by the plasmagenerated in nitrogen using the device described in Example 1. Thestrike-through time of test liquid through the textile was measuredusing a standard ETR 150.3-96 method. The exposure time of 0.8 sresulted in a 30-fold reduction in the strike-through time.

EXAMPLE 3

[0032] The method according to the present invention was used for ahydrophilic treatment of biodegradable PLA textile of square weight of15 g/m². The aim of the treatment was to impart hydrophilicity to fibersurfaces in the whole volume of the textile and, consequently, toimprove perviousness of the textile for water, urine, and other liquids.The textile was treated using the apparatus described in Example 1 in aCO₂ plasma. The exposure time of 1.2 s resulted in the permanentstrike-through time value of 3 s.

EXAMPLE 4

[0033] The method according to the present invention was used forhydrophilic treatment of a non-woven polypropylene textile (spunbond, 18g/m², 2.8-3.2 dtex). The aim was to impart the hydrophilicity to aportion of the textile in the shape of a given pattern for theapplication in baby diapers manufacturing. Using the apparatus describedin Example 1, the portion of the surface of the dielectric body 5 underwhich the electrodes 2 and 3 were situated had the shape of a givenpattern, and the textile movement was interrupted for a treatment timeof two seconds. The 2 s treatment resulted in a 30-fold reduction in thestrike-through time on the treated textile portion, whereas the rest ofthe textile remained hydrophobic.

EXAMPLE 5

[0034] The method according to the present invention was used forsurface activation of a woven textile material made from E-glass (210g/m², 0.18 mm. thick) for the use as a reinforcement in compositematerials. The textile was treated in a mixture of nitrogen and watervapor at 80° C. When compared with a conventional thermal activationmethod, a treatment time of five seconds resulted in a fivefold higherdensity of surface OH groups measured by the ESCA method.

EXAMPLE 6

[0035] The method according to the present invention was used forsurface activation of a thin skin layer of a thick (200 g/m²) PPmeltblown non-woven textile with the aim to increase textile surfaceenergy and its adhesive properties for the following lamination. A 2 sexposition of the textile to the plasma generated in nitrogen with3%-admixture of hydrogen resulted in an increase of the surface energyfrom 30 N/m for the untreated textile to 72 N/m for the plasma-treatedtextile, and the adhesive properties were improved significantly.

EXAMPLE 7

[0036] In the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3, which was used for atreatment of the textile in the shape of given surface pattern, thetreated textile 4 was moved intermittently on the surface of the planarelectrode system 1. The textile was moved intermittently for the lengthof the electrode system 1 in a one movement cycle using two pairs ofguide rolls 7 and 8. The space between both pairs of rollers was sealedby an upper wall 9, bottom wall 10, and by side walls that are notshown. A working gas with a pressure a little above the atmosphericpressure was fed into the sealed space. An electrical plasma wasgenerated in the working gas on the surface of the electrode system 1.The planar electrode system 1 illustrated by FIG. 3 and shown in detailin FIG. 1, which was used to generate surface electrical discharges,comprised two coplanar electrodes 2 and 3 having the shape of a systemof 1-mm-wide parallel strips. The distance between the strips of bothelectrodes 2 and 3 was 0.5 mm. The dielectric body 5 shown in FIG. 1comprised a 0.25-mm-thick Al₂O₃ layer with the coplanar metallicelectrodes 2 and 3 deposited by vacuum sputtering and subsequentelectroplating on its bottom surface and a solid dielectric layercoating the Al₂O₃ layer and electrodes 2 and 3 from their bottom side.The electrode system 1 was situated on the surface of a cooler 11. Analternating electrical voltage was applied between the electrodes 2 and3. The frequency of the voltage was 5 kHz and the voltage was 5 kVpeak-to-peak. From a plan view in the direction perpendicular to theelectrode system 1 surface, the electrodes 2 and 3 covered the electrodesystem surface portion corresponding to the shape of a given pattern,where a thin plasma layer was generated in the shape of the givenpattern.

EXAMPLE 8

[0037] The device illustrated in FIG. 7 was used for the textiletreatment by plasma from both sides of the treated textile. The treatedtextile 4 was moved between two planar electrode systems 1. Theelectrode system 1 is in detail illustrated by FIG. 1. The electrodesystems 1 used were identical with the electrode system 1 described inExample 1. The treated textile 4 was moved by means of two pairs ofrolls 7 and 8. The space between both pairs of rollers was sealed by anupper wall 9, bottom wall 10, and by side walls that are not shown. Aworking gas with a pressure a little above the atmospheric pressure wasfed into the sealed space. An electrical plasma was generated in theworking gas on the surface of the electrode system 1.

EXAMPLE 9

[0038] In the apparatus according to the present invention, which isillustrated in FIG. 5, the electrode system 1 has the shape of acylinder envelope. The treaded textile 4 was fed into and out of theapparatus by means of two pairs of rolls 7 and 8. Inside of the device,the treated textile 4 was brought on the surface of the electrode system1 by means of a pair of internal guide rolls 12. The space between thepairs of rolls 7 and 8 was sealed by an upper wall 9, bottom wall 10,and by side walls that are not shown. A working gas with a pressure alittle above the atmospheric pressure was fed into the sealed space. Anelectrical plasma was generated in the working gas on the surface of theelectrode system 1.

[0039] The outer part of electrode system 1 having the shape of acylinder envelope, which is shown in detail in FIG. 2, was made from a1-mm-thick glaze layer. The glaze layer was deposited on the surface ofa cooled ceramic cylinder and coplanar metallic electrodes 2 and 3,having the shape of a system of 1-mm-wide parallel strips with thedistance between the strips of 0.5 mm, were embedded in it. Theauxiliary electrode structure 11 was situated symmetrically between theelectrodes 2 and 3 in such a way that the distance between the auxiliaryelectrode structure 11 surface and the surface of the electrode system 1was 0.25 mm. The auxiliary electrode structure 11 was made from0.5-mm-diam. metallic wires. The cylinder with the electrode system 1 onits surface rotated and carried the treated textile 4 on its surface.The frequency of the voltage applied between the electrodes 2 and 3 was5 kHz and the voltage was 12 kV peak-to-peak.

[0040] List of the Reference Symbols Used:

[0041]1 electrode system

[0042]2 first electrically conductive electrodes

[0043]3 second electrically conductive electrodes

[0044]4 treated textile material

[0045]5 dielectric body

[0046]6 auxiliary electrode structure

[0047]7 pair of guide rolls

[0048]8 pair of guide rolls

[0049]9 upper wall

[0050]10 bottom wall

[0051]11 cooler

[0052]12 pair of internal guide rolls

1-19. (canceled).
 20. A method for treating textile materials forsurface treatment of fibers of woven and non-woven textile materialsthat are situated inside of the textile materials or on the surface ofthe textile materials, comprising the step of: affecting the textilematerials with electrical plasma generated by electrical dischargesinitiated using an electrode system having at least two electricallyconductive electrodes situated inside of a dielectric body on the sameside of the textile material treated, wherein the step of affectingincludes the steps of: applying a voltage of a frequency from 50 Hz to 1MHz and magnitude from 100 V to 100 kV between the electrodes of theelectrode system; and situating the electrode system in a gas at apressure from 1 kPa to 1,000 kPa, wherein the electrical plasma isgenerated on a portion of the dielectric body surface without a contactwith the electrically conductive electrodes.
 21. The method of claim 20,wherein the treated material is in contact with the surface of thedielectric body in which the electrodes are situated.
 22. The method ofclaim 20, wherein the electrical discharge initiation and the plasmageneration is facilitated by an addition auxiliary electrode structurethat is a part of the electrode system and is situated inside thedielectric body.
 23. The method of claim 20, wherein the electricvoltage applied to the auxiliary electrode structure is different fromthe voltage applied to the other electrically conductive electrodes ofthe electrode system.
 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the textilematerial is treated in the shape of a given planar pattern in contactwith the plasma generated on the dielectric body surface under which theelectrodes are situated and that has the shape of the given pattern. 25.The method of claim 20, wherein the treated textile material is movedalong the dielectric body in which the electrodes are situated.
 26. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the treated textile material is moved alongthe dielectric body in which the electrodes are situated.
 27. The methodof claim 20, wherein the treated textile material is moved between twoelectrode systems.
 28. The method of claim 20, wherein the treatedtextile material is guided by the electrode system surface having theshape of a cylindrical surface.
 29. An apparatus for treating textilematerials comprising: electrically conductive electrodes (2) and (3)that are situated inside of the dielectric body and are situated on thesame side of the textile material (4) affected by the plasma.
 30. Theapparatus of claim 29, wherein the electrically conductive electrodes(2) and (3) are parallel with the portion of the surface of thedielectric body (5) on which the electrical plasma is generated.
 31. Theapparatus of claim 29, wherein the portion of the dielectric body (5)surface under which the electrodes (2) and (3) are situated has theshape of a given pattern.
 32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein theapparatus contains the electrode system (1) having: at least twoelectrically conductive electrodes (2) and (3), which are situatedinside of the dielectric body (5); and an auxiliary electrode structure(6) that also is situated inside the dielectric body (5).
 33. Theapparatus of claim 29, further comprising: electrode systems (1)situated on both sides of the textile material (4) affected by theplasma.
 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein a portion of theelectrode system (1) has the shape of a plane surface, curved surface,or cylindrical surface.
 35. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein a part ofthe dielectric body (5) is made from a ferroelectric material.
 36. Theapparatus of claim 29, wherein a part of the dielectric body (5) is madefrom a liquid dielectric material.
 37. The apparatus of claim 29,wherein edges of electrically conductive electrodes (2) and (3) arecurved.
 38. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein a part of the dielectricbody contains MgO.
 39. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein edges ofelectrodes of the auxiliary electrode structure (6) are curved.